94th BG Target on 29 Apr 44?

[Rob Romero]

Thanks,

Rob Romero

[drgondog]

Huge marshalling yard in center of Berlin as the theoretical target for all three Bomb Divisions. Magdeburg was secondary target, weather or cloud cover prohibitive over Berlin.

The cloud cover was 8/10 and bombing results were only 'fair' over Berlin.

Regards,

Bill

[robert_schulte]

This is from the Army Air Forces Combat Chronology 1941 - 1945:
"4/29/44 Eighth AF
679 B-17’s and B-24’s bomb Berlin, concentrating on railway facilities in Friedrichstrasse section in
center of city. 38 other HBs bomb T/Os in area, including Magdeburg. Opposition by an estimated 350
ftrs is fierce. 64 HBs claim 73 ftrs destroyed while US ftrs claim 22."

[Rob Romero]

Thanks guys,

The reason I asked is because I’m researching this, the most one sided Luft Victory over the 8th AF, and after a carefull persusal of the Missing Air Crew Reports, I realized that at least 6 have nothing to do with the 24 Apr 44 Berlin Raid, (in fact the P-47 report pertains to the Pacific Theater!). The following ‘Order of Battle’ does not include the 94th BG, and I wanted to make sure the 2 losses from the 94th pertain to this raid. Do you have any specific (rather than general) indications that the 94th participated in this battle.

First Force (3rd Bomb Division)
45th Combat Wing
96BG, lead
452BG "B" + 7 a/c 388BG, high
452BG "A", low

4A Combat Wing
385BG, lead
447BG, low
13th Combat Wing
390BG "A", lead
95BG, high
390BG "B" (=7 a/c 95BG +7 a/c 390BG
+7a/c 100BG), low

4B Combat Wing
4BG, lead
100BG, high
388BG, low

Second Force (1st Bomb Division)
1st Combat Wing
91BG
381BG
398BG

40th Combat Wing
305BG, lead
92BG, low
306BG, high
41st Combat Wing
303BG, lead
379BG, high
384BG, low

94th Combat Wing
401BG, lead
457BG, high
351BG, low

Third Force (2nd Bomb Division)
14th Combat Wing
44BG + 4 a/c 392BG, lead
392BG

2nd Combat Wing
389BG, lead
453BG, high
445BG, low
96th Combat Wing
"B" = 458BG (lead & low left)
+ 2 sq. 467BG (high right)
"A" = 466BG (lead & low left)
+ 2 sq. 467BG (high right)
["B" Group was abreast and
to the left of the "A" Group]

20th Combat Wing
"A" = 93BG (lead & low left)
+ 2 sq. 448BG (high right)
&"B" = 446BG (lead & low left)
+ 2 sq. 448BG (high right)
["B" Group was echeloned to the right
of the "A" Group]

Rob Romero

[fsbofk]

In the 94BG history Lingering Contrails of the Big Square A, author Harry Slater describes the 94th's participation in the raid on Berlin on 29 April 1944, noting that they were led by Major Birdsall with the specific target being Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station in Berlin. Due to smoke, the 94th's bombs probably landed southeast of the intended target. Two 94th aircraft were lost to flak on that mission, 42-102520 from the 332 BS and 42-31498 "Passionate Witch" from the 331 BS. In Mighty Eighth War Diary, Freeman also lists the 94th among the groups participating in the mission to Berlin/Magdeburg/Brandenburg on 29 April 1944